Fruit-selling slot-machine.



J. H. TATUM. FRUIT SELLING SLOT MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1909.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

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ANDREW B. GRAHAM-CO1. more HOGHAFHERS. WASMNGTON. D c

J. H. TATUM.

FRUIT SELLING SLOT MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1909.

955,718. Patented Apr. 19,1910.

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ANDREW a GRAHAM c0 PHOTO-LITHOGRAFKERS. wnsummcu, n. c.

J. H. TATUM. FRUIT SELLING SLOT MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1909.

955,718. Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

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ANDREW a GRAHAM Cc PMDYO LITHOGRAPNERS WASHINGTON. I16.

JOHN H. TA'IUM, OF AMARILLO, TEXAS.

FRUIT-SELLING SLOT-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 28, 1909.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

Serial No. 498,874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. TATUM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Amarillo, in the county of Potter and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fruit- Selling Slot-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to coin controlled vending machines.

One object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character adapted more particularly for vending oranges and apples in which the operating mechanisms are so constructed as practically to preclude disarrangement even when roughly used, and in which any attempt to beat the machine by the employment of a coin other than one of a predetermined diameter, will positively be prevented.

A further object is in a novel manner to adapt the delivery mechanism to vary the number of oranges or apples dispensed at one operation, thereby measurably to extend the range of usefulness of the apparatus, inasmuch as one can be made to accomplish the work of two.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a coin controlled vending machine, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of the machine showing one of the side walls of the casing broken away for the purpose of disclosing parts of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the lower portion of the machine showing one of the sides of the casing removed. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical section taken through a portion of the machine on a line with the plunger. Fig. 4 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the catch of the rock shaft engaged with the plunger.

Fig. 6 is a detail section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates generally the casing of the apparatus, which may be constructed of any suitable material, and is provided in its top with a hinged door 2 through which the fruit is supplied to the vending apparatus.

Arranged within the casing is a feed chute embodying a hopper 3 and an approximately U-shaped tube or pipe 4 which is of a diameter to permit ready passage therethrough of the fruit without danger of sticking. Of course it will be understood that in supplying the fruit to the feed chute, it will be sorted so that there will be no danger of clogging the tube.

The discharge end of the feed chute, as shown in Fig. 4, is composed of a plurality of spaced sections 5 and 6, although this number may be increased if found necessary or desirable, the object of this arrangement being to permit the apparatus to discharge one or two apples or oranges at each operation.

Arranged to work between the sections 5 and 6 are two cut-ofi's 7 and 8 each of which embodies a circular head that constitutes the cut-off proper and an arm 9 and 10 respectively. As shown in Fig. 2, when the head or cut-off is in position to intercept passage through the feed-chute, the cut-off S is in a position to permit passage through the chute thus to allow a fresh charge or supply of fruit to assume a position for discharge upon a subsequent operation of the apparatus. The arms 9 and 10 are mounted upon a shaft 11 which is supported upon a pair of standards 12 secured to the base 13 of the apparatus, and are held against lateral movement thereon by collars 14 and 15 that are held rigid on the shaft by setscrews 16. As will be observed by reference to Fig. 1, the shaft 11 extends a considerable distance beyond the arm 10, the object of this arrangement being to permit of the arm being shifted to bring the head 8 into cooperative relation with either of the spaces between the tube sections 5 and 6. When adjusted as shown in the above figure, only one orange or apple will be discharged at a single operation, but when shifted to bring the head within the space between the section 5 and tube 4, two apples or oranges will be discharged.

The arms 9 and 10 extend rearward some distance beyond the shaft 11 and are pivotally connected with a pair of cranks 17 and 18 that are bolted to a shaft 19 journaled in standards 20 secured upon the base 13. The shaft 19 extends beyond the crank 18 a distance equal to the adjacent shaft 11, and the crank is adjustable on the shaft in order to permit of the arm 10 being shifted for the purpose above described. The shaft 19 is provided with an intermediate enlarged portion 21 from which projects an arm 22, and connecting with one end of this arm is a coiled spring 23, the other end of which is secured to a bracket 24 on the base. The function of this spring is to cause the arms normally to occupy the position shown in Fig. 2, that is in which the discharge end of the chute is intercepted by the head 7 to prevent the escape of fruit.

As shown in Fig. 5 the base 13 is formed *ith two passageways 25 and 26, arranged in alinement, and in the former is disposed a push rod 27 the outer end of which proj ects beyond the casing and is provided with a knob 28. The intermediate portion of the rod carries a head 29 which is adapted to fit within the passage way, and against which bears one end of a coiled spring 30, the other end of which bears against the inner wall of the passage way 25, and operates normally to hold the rod in the position shown in Fig. 2.

The inner end of the push rod, when moved to the position shown in F ig. 5, bridges a vertical slot 31 arranged above which, and extending to the top of the casing, is a coin receiving tube 32 which is of a size to accommodate a nickel, but no larger coin. The slot 31 extends entirely through the base, but its lower end is constricted as at 33 in order to prevent the escape of a nickel, but to permit the passage of any smaller coin, such as a dime or a cent.

Arranged for sliding movements within the passage way 26 is a plunger 34 provided with a longitudinal orifice in which the push rod will be received when no coin is within the slot 31, and thus prevent operation of the machine.

Secured to the shaft 19 is a depending arm 36 provided at its lower end with a longitudinal slot 37, and this slot is engaged by a pin 38 carried by the inner end of the plunger 34, which latter is provided with a longitudinal slot 39 to receive the arm. At a point intermediate the ends of the plunger rod is arranged a notch 40 that is designed to be engaged by a catch 41 carried by a rock shaft 42 mounted in standards 43 secured to the base, thus to hold the plunger rod in the position shown in Fig. 5 to permit the push rod 27 to move away from the nickel and permit the same to escape through a slot 33 in the base into a chamber provided for its reception. The catch 41 is caused automatically to engage with the notch 40 by a coiled spring 44, one end of which is secured to the upper portion of an arm 45 rigid with the shaft 42, and the other end of which is secured to the shaft 11. In order to throw the catch out of engagement with the notch, and in order to permit the plunger to resume its normal position, there is a wire link 46 provided, the inner end of which is bent upwardly and rearwardly and passed through a slot 47 adjacent to the upper end of the arm 45, and the forward end of which is bent downwardly and passed through a keeper 48 on the upper side of the push rod. This keeper is of such length as to permit the push rod to be moved inward a distance sufficient to actuate the cut-offs before its outer bend 49 will engage with the link, thus to insure the proper actuation of the cut-off. Upon release of the push rod, the spring 30 will force it outwardly, and thus bring the inner bend 50 of the keeper into engagementwith the link, and thereby rock the arm 45 and automatically lift the catch 41 out of engagement with the seat.

In the operation of the device, the feed chute is filled with oranges or apples of uniform size, and as the cut-off 7 will be in the position shown in Fig. 2, the discharge end of the chute will be closed. Upon the nickel being dropped down the tube 32, and upon inward movement being imparted to the push rod, the plunger 34 is moved inward, and swings the arm 36, thereby rocking the shaft 19 and depressing the cranks 18 with the result that the cut-off 7 will be lifted upward a sutficient distance to clear the discharge mouth, while at the same time the cut-off 8 will check the escape of fruit. iVhen the fruit is released it passes into a receptacle 51 arranged at one side of the casing. During this operation the catch 41 will engage with the seat 40, and hold the plunger against rearward movement until the push rod has moved a sufiicient distance to free the nickel, and to actuate the link in the forward direction, whereupon the plunger will be released and resume its normal position.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that while the improvements herein defined are simple in character, they will be thoroughly efficient for the purposes designed, and will co-act in the production of an eflicient and reliable form of vending machines. The bottom of the hopper 3 is inclined downwardly toward the upper inlet end of the pipe 4, and as shown the said bottom is provided with a passage which is disposed immediately in line with said inlet end of the pipe 4.

I claim A vending machine embodying a feed chute comprising a plurality of spaced sections, a plurality of shafts, adjustable cutofls mounted to rock on one of the shafts, operating means connecting the other shaft with the said cutoffs, a plunger for revolving the shafts to actuate the cutofls, and means for 15 actuating the plunger.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. TATUM. Witnesses:

J. O. ALLRED, J. D. OAzzELL. 

